Religious Freedom in the World Report 2021 SAUDI SAUDI ARABIA

RELIGIONS 1.5% Other 5.9% Christians

2.0% Hindus

90.6% Muslims Population Area 34,709,640 2,206,714 Km2 GDP per capita GINI INDEX* 49,045 US$ N/A *Economic Inequality

An unofficial census by the Apostolic Vicariate of North- LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION ern Arabia estimates that Saudi Arabia’s Catholics num- AND ACTUAL APPLICATION ber 1.5 million,5 mainly foreign workers from India and the Philippines. Some reports indicate a growing number of Saudis identifying as atheists6 or Christians.7 But, as a Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who has been king of Sau- result of harsh social and legal consequences for leaving di Arabia since 2015, is both head of state and head of Islam, they keep quiet about their conversion.8 The government. Under the 1992 Basic Law of Governance,1 Kingdom does not have official diplomatic ties with the the King, who is an absolute ruler, must follow Shari‘a (Is- Holy See.9 lamic law). The Kingdom’s “constitution is Almighty God’s Book, The Holy Qur’an, and the Sunna (Traditions) of the Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to its Prophet (PBUH).” two holiest cities – Makkah and Madinah – with the Sau- di king serving as the official Custodian of the Two Holy Under the late King Abdullah (2005-2015), the country ex- Mosques. While the law is based on the Hanbali school of perienced a gradual modernisation.2 With about 17 per- Islamic jurisprudence, the interpretations of Muhammad cent of the world’s known oil reserves,3 the country is one ibn Abd al-Wahhab, upon whose teachings Wahhabism is of the wealthiest in the region and a leading political and based, are also highly influential. The country follows a religious power in the Arab world. strict interpretation of Sunni Islam, including restrictions In recent years, demands for political reform have in- on women and harsh penalties for a range of crimes, in- creased along with calls for social change, such as the cluding (beheading) for minors. A Roy- right of women to drive and some possibilities for freedom al Order is supposed to have been issued to prohibit the of expression. In 2016, the Saudi government adopted death penalty for underage offenders, but as of November ambitious plans for economic reform – Vision 2030 and 2020 it was not yet officially promulgated. Saudi citizens the National Transformation Program 2020 – to reduce must be Muslims. Non-Muslims must convert to Islam to 4 dependence on oil revenues. be eligible for naturalisation. Children born to Muslim fa- thers are deemed to be Muslim. It is prohibited to publicly | ACN - Aid to the Church in Need SAUDI ARABIA

10 Religious Freedom in the World promote non-official Islamic teachings. the provisions of Islamic law,” non-Islamic public worship, public display of non-Islamic religious symbols, conver- Religious freedom is neither recognised nor protected. Report 2021 sion by a Muslim to another religion, and proselytising by Conversion from Islam to another religion is considered a non-Muslim are also criminalised.17 apostasy, which is legally punishable by death, as is blas- phemy against Islam. More recently, Saudi courts have Despite government policy against non-Muslim burial in SAUDI ARABIA SAUDI tended to be lenient, imposing lengthy prison sentences the Kingdom, at least one public, non-Islamic cemetery SAUDI ARABIA and lashings for blasphemy instead of the death penalty.11 exists.18 In November 2020 it was the target of an attack claimed by Islamic State group during a ceremony attend- Importing and distributing non-Islamic religious materi- ed by many diplomats (see below). Non-Muslim clerics are als and proselytising are illegal for both Saudi nationals not allowed in the country. RELIGIONS and foreigners.12 Non-Muslim places of worship and the 1.5% public expression of non-Muslim creeds are prohibited. standards are observed “in light of the provi- Other 5.9% Christians Failure to comply can mean discrimination, harassment sions of Shar‘ia”. Saudi Arabia is not a party to the Interna- 19 2.0% and detention. Non-citizens may be deported. Despite tional Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This means Hindus government statements that non-Muslims who are not that human rights are not really protected. During the peri- converts from Islam can practise their religion privately, od under review, there were frequent reports of restrictions 90.6% the lack of clear rules has left non-Muslims at the mercy on free speech. No laws or regulations ban discrimination Muslims of local police. Some groups of Christian expatriates have in employment and occupation based on religion as well Population Area been able to discreetly worship on a regular basis without as other grounds (race, sex, gender identity).20 34,709,640 2,206,714 Km2 provoking action by the government’s religious police, the GDP per capita GINI INDEX* The semi-autonomous mutawa (religious police) monitors Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of public behaviour, reporting to the regular police to enforce 49,045 US$ N/A 13 *Economic Inequality Vice (CPVPV), also known as the mutawa. a strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islamic norms. Since Religious instruction based on the official interpretation 2016, its officers have to carry official identification pa- of Islam is mandatory in state schools. Private schools pers, and their powers have been significantly limited by cannot teach separate curricula, and are required to offer royal decree. Both Muslims and non-Muslims have report- both Saudi and non-Saudi Muslim pupils an Islamic stud- ed less harassment and fewer raids as a result. ies programme. Non-Muslim students in private schools The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has intensified its efforts receive mandatory classes on Islamic civilisation.14 Other against extremist Islamic preaching through video surveil- religions or civilisations can be taught at private interna- lance of mosques and close monitoring of Facebook and tional schools.15 .21 Defendants must be treated equally in accordance Since 2004, Saudi Arabia has been designated by the with Shari‘a. Of the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence, United States Commission on International Religious the Hanbali school is the basis for interpreting Islamic law. Freedom (USCIRF) as a “Country of Particular Concern” There is no comprehensive written penal code. Rulings (CPC). and sentences vary widely from case to case. In civil cas- es, Christian and Jewish men can receive 50 percent of the compensation a Muslim man would receive. And for INCIDENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS other non-Muslims, this gap may go up to one sixteenth the amount a Muslim man would receive. In some cases, Zuhair Hussein Bu Saleh was detained in July 2018 to the evidence presented by Muslims carries greater weight serve a two-month prison sentence and 60 lashes for than that of non-Muslims, and the evidence of Muslim practising congregational prayers at his house due to the 22 women is worth half that of Muslim men in certain cases.16 lack of Shi‘a mosques in the country’s Eastern Province.

The 2017 counterterrorism law criminalises “anyone who In September 2018, the public prosecutor declared that challenges, either directly or indirectly, the religion or jus- online satire that “disrupts public order” will be punished 23 tice of the King or Crown Prince.” “The promotion of athe- with up to five years in prison. istic ideologies in any form,” “any attempt to cast doubt on In November 2018, a delegation American of Evangelical the fundamentals of Islam,” publications that “contradict Christians visited Saudi Arabia and met with Saudi Ara-

Religious Freedom in the World Report 2021 | bia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.24 show. Later he had to apologise on Twitter.31

Although the government has received many Jewish and According to the US Department of State’s 2019 Report Christian religious leaders, most non-Muslim clergy are on International Religious Freedom, anti-Semitic materi- not allowed to enter the country on a regular basis in order al, including The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Mein to conduct religious services. In December 2019, Coptic Kampf could be found at the annual Jeddah International

SAUDI ARABIA SAUDI Orthodox Metropolitan Anba Markos paid a three-week Book Fair.32 Similar material could be found at the annual pastoral visit to Riyadh upon invitation by Crown Prince Riyadh International Book Fair held in March 2019.33 Mohammed Bin Salman. During this visit, the first official In April 2019, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) announced the Coptic Mass was held in Riyadh on 1st December 2018.25 execution of 37 people, of whom at least 33 were from the According to the US Department of State’s 2019 Report on Shi‘a community, for “terrorism crimes”. The sentence was international Religious Freedom, regulations were issued carried out without prior notice.34 According to various hu- in January 2019 criminalising “calling for atheist thought in man rights organisations, their trials violated international any form or calling into question the fundamentals of the fair trial standards and confessions were obtained under Islamic religion”.26 torture. Based on a MOI statement, the Saudi Press Agen- cy (SPA) specified that one of the convicts was crucified – In January 2019, security forces stormed Umm al-Ham- in Saudi Arabia, this means that the body of the executed am, a village in the predominantly Shi‘a governorate of person was strung up and exposed to dissuade others.35 Qatif, in eastern Saudi Arabia. Clashes, mortar attacks The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other and shooting left five people dead and an unspecified human rights organisations condemned the executions, number of injured.27 especially since some of the executed were minors at the Islamic scholar and former dean at the Islamic University time of their sentencing.36

in Madinah, Sheikh Ahmed al-Amari, died on 20th Jan- In May 2019, Muslim World League’s (MWL) Secretary uary 2019 after suffering a brain haemorrhage while in General Mohammed Al-Issa signed a memorandum with detention. The London-based ALQST human rights group Global Jewish Advocacy’s CEO David Harris, committing declared that he was tortured and injected with a poison- the two institutions to further Muslim-Jewish understand- ous substance which eventually caused the brain haemor- ing. He also offered his condolences for the April 2019 28 rhage and subsequent death. terrorist attack on a synagogue in California.37 During his Amari, who, according to activists, was held in solitary con- trip in the United States, Al-Issa visited several religious finement, was believed to be close to influential religious centres. scholar Safar Al-Hawali, who was arrested in July 2018 af- In May 2019, the MWL organised a four-day international ter publishing a book in which he criticised the Saudi royal conference on “Values of moderation in the texts of the family and called for violence.29 In his 3,000-page book Qur’an and Sunnah”. The “Charter of Makkah”38 was ad- titled Muslims and Western Civilization, Al-Hawali – who opted by 1,200 high-ranking Muslim leaders from 139 had already been arrested in 1994 – incites hate towards countries, representing 27 Islamic sects and communities. other religions and calls for jihad to be a main focus in King Salman stressed encouraging “concepts of tolerance daily education. He slammed the Saudi government for and moderation, while strengthening the culture of con- investing money in the entertainment sector while neglect- sensus and reconciliation.”39 ing preparations for jihad. He also called for “martyrdom

operations” (suicide attacks) in order to “intimidate the Several prominent figures who had criticised concerts and enemy” and “display the courage of Muslims.” He wrote: entertainment activities sponsored by the government’s “Jihadists should be honoured, not imprisoned, and if they General Entertainment Authority (GEA) were arrested on 30 do something wrong, they should be corrected.” charges of interfering in the internal affairs of the King- dom. One of them, scholar Sheikh Omar al-Muqbil, was Although the religious police’s role and range of action arrested in September 2019 for saying that GEA’s spon- have been dramatically reduced, comedian Yaser Bakr sored music concerts constituted a threat to the kingdom’s was briefly detained in February 2019 for making a joke culture and were “erasing the original identity of society.”40 about the religious police in a public stand-up comedy

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In September 2019, officials declared that violations of chwitz concentration camp. On the eve of the 75th an- “public decency,” including wearing immodest clothing and niversary of the camp’s liberation, Al-Issa declared that it publicly displaying affection, would be penalised.41 was “both a sacred duty and a profound honor”.51

In November 2019, a video describing feminism, homo- A September 2020 report by Ali Al-Ahmed, founder and sexuality, and atheism as extremist ideas was released director of the Institute for Gulf Affairs, found that Saudi on the Twitter account of the Presidency of State Security; textbooks still contained derogatory and violent passag- it stated that “all forms of extremism and perversion are es against Jews, Christians and non-Wahhabi Muslims, unacceptable.” Takfir – the practice of declaring as unbe- this despite several statements by Saudi officials that they lievers those who follow other schools of Islam or even had been edited and purged of such content.52 Al-Ahmed Muslims who do not think the same way – was also de- noted that although the phrase “Christians and Jews” has scribed as an unacceptable behaviour. The post was later been replaced in one passage of a textbook with “the en- deleted and the security agency said in a statement post- emies of Islam,” others clearly placed Christians and Jews ed by the official press agency that the video contained in the enemies’ camp. “many mistakes”.42 The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance In December 2019, more than 200 people were arrested in School Education (MPACT-se) also noted that, although for violating “public decency,” including wearing immodest some changes to school curricula have been made, Saudi clothing, and “harassment”.43 pupils, from kindergarten to high school, were still taught Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger who created the Free Saudi in 2019 to keep westerners at a distance, to consider Jews Liberals Forum,44 has been in prison since 2012. He is as “monkeys” and “assassins” determined on harming accused of flouting Islamic values, violating Shari‘a, com- Muslim holy places, and to punish gays by death. While mitting blasphemy, and mocking religious symbols on the women are depicted as entrepreneurial and encouraged Internet. For these offences, he was sentenced to seven to be so, IMPACT-se Chief Executive Officer Marcus Sheff years, later increased in his appeal trial to a 10-year pris- said that they are advised not to befriend “westerners they on term and a thousand lashes.45 In 2015, he received 50 would do business with.”53 lashes. Eventually he was spared the remaining 950 by In September 2020, Abdulrahman al-Sudais, imam of the the abolition of flogging.46 Grand Mosque of Makkah, delivered a sermon calling for In September 2019, the USCIRF issued a statement dialogue and kindness to non-Muslims, specifically refer- condemning Saudi authorities for denying Badawi much ring to Jews. Interpreted by some as a possible signal of needed medicine. Eventually, Badawi decided to go on a coming Saudi normalisation with Israel, it caused a stir on 47 hunger strike to protest. social media.54 In December 2019, both Badawi and his lawyer Waleed On 21st October 2020, the United Nations Human Rights Abu al-Khair went on a hunger strike to protest his soli- Commission noted that the Royal Order of April 2020 ex- tary confinement.48 Waleed Abu al-Khair, who founded the cluded juvenile offenders from the death penalty in Saudi Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia, was detained in Arabia. However, the fact that the decree has not been 2014 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for “participat- published yet leaves some uncertainty as to its content ing in, calling for, and inciting breaking allegiance with the and application.55 This decision, if implemented, may af- ruler” and “describing the Saudi regime – unjustly – as a fect, among other things, the fate of three Shi‘a detainees: police state.”49 Ali al-Nimr (nephew of Nimr al-Nimr, a Shi’a cleric execut- In April, August, October and December 2019, Sheikh ed by the government in 2016), Dawoud al-Marhoon (both Saleh bin Humaid, adviser to the Royal Court and mem- 17 at the time of the alleged offences) and Abdullah Zaher ber of the Council of Senior Scholars, prayed to God at the (15 at the time of the alleged offences). The government Grand Mosque in Makkah to “destroy the usurping occu- has disputed that claim, arguing that the courts use the hi- 50 pying Zionist Jews.” jri calendar. Lunar years being shorter than solar ones, 56 In January 2020, MWL Secretary General Mohammed age computation differs. al-Issa and a delegation of Muslim leaders visited Aus- On 11th November 2020, an attack with explosives oc-

Religious Freedom in the World Report 2021 | curred during a World War I remembrance ceremony, held Although there are certain signs of modernisation in the at Saudi Arabia’s only non-Muslim cemetery. A couple of country, it is clear from the contradictory messages sent days later, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the out by the country’s strong man, Crown Prince Moham- terrorist attack against several “consuls of crusading coun- med bin Salman, that reform will only happen at the gov- tries” present at the time. The main target was the French ernment’s initiative. Women activists fighting for women’s

SAUDI ARABIA SAUDI consul general because of the publication in France of rights have been detained and tortured, even after the cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.57 rights they were demanding were granted.

Legal foreign residents are required to carry a residence Any kind of opposition – be it conservative or liberal – is permit (iqama) which contains religious designation. Al- strongly silenced. The government continues to crack though this usually is either “Muslim” or “non-Muslim”, down on dissent and imprison individuals accused of some recently issued residence cards carried the desig- apostasy and blasphemy, of violating Islamic values and nation “Christian.”58 moral standards, insulting Islam, engaging in black magic and sorcery. Like many other countries, Saudi Arabia took strong mea- sures in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19. At Furthermore, internationally, Saudi Arabia has pursued a the beginning of March 2020, the Umrah pilgrimage to realist approach; for example, in spite of the leading role it Makkah was temporarily suspended, as were prayers in plays in the Sunni Muslim world, it decided not to offer any mosques later that month. A few days before the begin- support to the persecuted Uyghur Muslims of China, valu- ning of Ramadan, curfew restrictions were amended in ing more its relationship with that country than the rights cities where there was no 24-hour curfew. Although some of fellow Muslims.64 prayers were allowed in the Two Holy Mosques of Makkah Ultimately, fundamental human rights and freedom of con- and Madinah, they were restricted to employees.59 science, thought and religion are not protected in Saudi

In June 2020, mosques were allowed to reopen,60 while Arabia. lessons and lectures in mosques could resume after prayers but with certain restrictions.61

On 1st November 2020, some 10,000 foreign pilgrims were allowed to perform the Umrah pilgrimage to Makkah after a seven-month hiatus.62

PROSPECTS RELIGIOUS FOR FREEDOM

All but one state-authorised form of religion (Islam) is al- lowed in Saudi Arabia for both Muslims and non-Muslims. Except for some important historic meetings with leaders of other religions, and the signing of joint declarations and international charters promoting peace and tolerance, the above-mentioned incidents show that the country has so far failed to make any significant changes in the field of freedom of religion in everyday life.

Despite some encouraging signs of openness, Saudi Arabia is still responsible for “systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom”63 and remains a country of great concern with respect to religious freedom and human rights. Numerous human rights activists and advocates of reforms have been arrested, imprisoned and, in some cases, tortured.

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SOURCES / ENDNOTES

1 The Basic Law of Governance, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, D.C., https://web.archive.org/web/20140323165604/ http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country-information/laws/The_Basic_Law_Of_Governance.aspx (accessed 6th February 2021). 2 Lewis Sanders, “Modernization drive spurs Saudi Arabia’s criminal reform,” Deutsche Welle, 28th April 2020, https://www.dw.com/ en/modernization-drive-spurs-saudi-arabias-criminal-reform/a-53272971(accessed 6th February 2021). 3 “Top ten countries with the world’s largest oil reserves, from Venezuela to Iraq,” NS Energy, 4th November 2020, https:// www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/newstop-ten-countries-with-worlds-largest-oil-reserves-5793487/#:~:text=Saudi%20Arabia%20 %E2%80%93%20298%20billion%20barrels&text=As%20of%20the%20end%20of%202019%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%20holds%20 just,the%20largest%20in%20the%20world (accessed 6th February 2021). 4 “Saudi Arabia,” 2018 Annual Report, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCRIF), http://www.uscirf. gov/sites/default/files/2018USCIRFAR.pdf (accessed 22nd November 2020). 5 “The Catholic Community in Saudi Arabia,” The Apostolic Vicariate in Northern Arabia, http://www.avona.org/saudi/saudi_about. htm#.W0kGSNJKjIU (accessed 19th November 2020). 6 Carlyle Murphy, “The rise of atheism in Saudi Arabia, where talking about atheism is illegal,” Global Post, 10th June 2014, https:// www.pri.org/stories/2014-06-10/rise-atheism-saudi-arabia-where-talking-about-atheism-illegal (accessed 19th November 2020 7 Carey Lodge, “Muslims converting to Christianity in Saudi Arabia, despite intense persecution,” Christian Today, 31st May 2016, https://www.christiantoday.com/article/muslims-converting-to-christianity-in-saudi-arabia-despite-intense-persecution/87220.htm (accessed 19th November 2020). 8 Office of International Religious Freedom, “Saudi Arabia,” 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom, US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/saudi-arabia/ (accessed 19th November 2020). 9 “The Catholic Community in Saudi Arabia,” The Apostolic Vicariate in Northern Arabia, http://www.avona.org/saudi/saudi_about. htm#.W0kGSNJKjIU (accessed 19th November 2020). 10 Office of International Religious Freedom, op. cit. 11 Ibid. 12 Ibid. 13 Ibid. 14 Ibid. 15 Ibid. 16 Ibid. 17 Ibid. 18 Rawan Radwan, “Shrouded in mystery — the history of Jeddah’s non-Muslim cemetery,” Arab News, 14th November 2020, https:// www.arabnews.com/node/1762321/saudi-arabia (accessed 20th November 2020). 19 Office of International Religious Freedom, op. cit. 20 “Saudi Arabia 2018 Human Rights Report,” The United States Department of Justice, p. 55, https://www.justice.gov/file/1153971/ download (accessed 20th November 2020). 21 “Saudi mufti tells young Saudis not to heed call to jihad,” Reuters, 28th August 2014, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-se- curity-idUSKBN0GS19M20140828 (accessed 20th November 2020). 22 “Saudi Arabia: Two months imprisonment and 60 lashes for citizen Bu Saleh for Practicing congregational prayers from his home,” European Saudi organisation for Human Rights, 6th July 2018, https://www.esohr.org/en/?p=1823 (accessed 20th November 2020). 23 “Saudi Arabia declares online satire punishable offence,” France 24, 4th September 2018, https://www.france24.com/ en/20180904-saudi-arabia-declares-online-satire-punishable-offence (accessed 19th November 2020). 24 “Saudi Arabia hosts rare visit of U.S. Evangelical Christian figures,” Reuters, 1st November 2018, https://www.reuters.com/article/ us-saudi-christians-idUSKCN1N6675 (accessed 19th November 2020). 25 Nader Shukry, “First Coptic Mass in Saudi Arabia,” Watani, 2nd December 2018, https://en.wataninet.com/coptic-affairs-coptic-af- fairs/coptic-affairs/first-coptic-mass-in-saudi-arabia/26902/ (accessed 20th November 2020). 26 Office of International Religious Freedom, op. cit. 27 “Saudi forces conduct deadly raid in Qatif village,” Press TV, 8th January 2019, https://www.presstv.com/De- tail/2019/01/08/585176/Saudi-Arabia-Qatif-clash (accessed 22nd November 2020). 28 “Saudi cleric Al-Amari dies, one week after being released from prison,” Middle East Monitor, 21st January 2019, https://www. middleeastmonitor.com/20190121-saudi-cleric-al-amari-dies-one-week-after-being-released-from-prison/ (accessed 20th November 2020). 29 “Saudi cleric detained in crackdown dies: activists,” Reuters, 21st January 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-arrests/ saudi-cleric-detained-in-crackdown-dies-activists-idUSKCN1PF1QM (accessed 22nd November 2020). 30 Rawan Radwan, “Father of Hate: How detained Saudi cleric Safar Al-Hawali promoted anti-Western ideas,” Arab News, 29th April 2019, https://www.arabnews.com/node/1489456/saudi-arabia (accessed 22nd November 2020). 31 Annual Report 2020, United States Commission On International Religious Freedom (USCRIF), April 2020, p. 36, https://www.

Religious Freedom in the World Report 2021 | uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/USCIRF%202020%20Annual%20Report_Final_42920.pdf (accessed 22nd November 2020). 32 Office of International Religious Freedom, op. cit. 33 “Jewish rights group decries sale of Nazi books at Saudi book fair,” The Jerusalem Post, 1st April 2019, https://www.jpost.com/ International/Jewish-rights-group-decries-sale-of-Nazi-books-at-Saudi-book-fair-585431 (accessed 22nd November 2020). 34 “Ali al-Nimr turns 25 on death row in Saudi Arabia,” Americans for Democracy and , 19th December 2019, https://www.adhrb.org/2019/12/ali-al-nimr-turns-25-on-death-row-in-saudi-arabia/ (accessed 22nd November 2020).

SAUDI ARABIA SAUDI 35 Tamara Qiblawi, “Saudi Arabia executes 37 people, crucifying one, for terror-related crimes,” CNN World, 24th April 2019, https:// edition.cnn.com/2019/04/23/middleeast/saudi-executions-terror-intl/index.html (accessed 23rd November 2020). 36 Stephanie Nebehay and Sylvia Westall, “U.N. rights boss condemns Saudi Arabia’s beheading of 37 men,” Reuters, 24th April 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-execution-un-idUSKCN1S01CA (accessed 7th February 2021). 37 “Muslim World League leader to make historic visit to Auschwitz,” Al Arabiya, 2nd May 2019, https://english.alarabiya.net/en/ News/2019/05/02/Muslim-World-League-leader-to-make-historic-visit-to-Auschwitz (accessed 23rd November 2020). 38 The Charter of Makkah, The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, https://www.saudiembassy.net/statements/charter-makkah (accessed 7th February 2021). 39 “MWL launches global conference for moderate Islam - The Charter of Makkah,” The Muslim World League Journal, June 2019, N° 10, https://themwl.org/sites/default/files/The%20MWL%20Journal%202019%20June%20Issue.pdf (accessed 23rd November 2020). 40 Office of International Religious Freedom, op. cit.; “Saudi scholar ‘held’ after criticising entertainment authority,” Al Jazeera, 11th September 2019, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/11/saudi-scholar-held-after-criticising-entertainment-authority/ (accessed 23rd November 2020). 41 “Saudi Arabia arrests dozens for ‘indecency’ harassment,” The Times of Israel, 29th December 2019, https://www.timesofisrael. com/saudi-arabia-arrests-dozens-for-indecency-harassment/ (accessed 23rd November 2020). 42 “Saudi backpedals on video labelling feminism ‘extremist’,” Al Jazeera, 13th November 2019, https://www.aljazeera.com/ news/2019/11/13/saudi-backpedals-on-video-labelling-feminism-extremist (accessed 23rd November 2020). 43 “Saudi Arabia arrests dozens for ‘indecency,’ harassment,” op. cit. 44 Rishi Iyengar, “Jailed Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Will Share a Top Literary Award,” Time Magazine, 7th October 2015, https://time. com/4064037/pen-pinter-prize-raif-badawi-james-fenton/; “Raif Badawi,” , 17th June 2017, https://www.amnesty.ca/ category/campaign/raif-badawi (accessed 7th February 2021). 45 “Saudi blogger Raif Badawi gets 10 year jail sentence,” BBC News, 8th May 2014, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle- east-27318400 (accessed 7th February 2021). 46 “Raif Badawi spared 950 lashes after Saudi decision to abolish flogging,” Reporters without Borders, 29th April 2020, https://rsf. org/en/news/raif-badawi-spared-950-lashes-after-saudi-decision-abolish-flogging (accessed 7th February 2021). 47 “Saudi government denies medicine to religious prisoner of conscience,” United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, 20th September 2019, https://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/releases-statements/saudi-government-denies-medicine-religious-pris- oner-conscience (accessed 23rd November 2020). 48 “Raif Badawi among Saudi political prisoners to launch hunger strike over arbitrary detention,” The New Arab, 23rd December 2019, https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2019/12/23/saudi-political-prisoners-launch-hunger-strike (accessed 23rd November 2020). 49 “Saudi Arabia: 15-Year Sentence for Prominent Activist,” , 7th July 2014, https://www.hrw.org/ news/2014/07/07/saudi-arabia-15-year-sentence-prominent-activist (accessed 7th February 2021). 50 Office of International Religious Freedom, op. cit. 51 “Muslim World League chief leads delegation to Auschwitz for Holocaust memorial,” Arab News, 23rd January 2020, https://www. arabnews.com/node/1617381/world (accessed 23rd November 2020). 52 Ali Al-Ahmed, “Official Saudi pipeline of hate, from grade school to the military, to public broadcasting,” Institute for Gulf Affairs, www.gulfinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/the-Saudi-Pipeline-of-Hatred.pdf (accessed 23rd November 2020). 53 Kimberly Dozier, “Saudi Arabia rebuffs Trump Administration’s requests to stop teaching hate speech in schools,” Time, 10th Feb- ruary 2020, https://time.com/5780130/saudi-arabia-hate-speech-schools/ (accessed 23rd November 2020). 54 Rayhan Uddin, “Mecca sermon raises questions on possible Saudi normalisation with Israel,” Middle East Eye, 6th September 2020, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-israel-normalisation-mecca-sermon-sudais (accessed 23rd November 2020). 55 Taha Al-Hajji, “Saudi Arabia shouldn’t be allowed to rejoin the U.N. Human Rights Council,” Foreign Policy, 2nd October 2020, https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/10/02/saudi-arabia-shouldnt-be-allowed-to-rejoin-the-u-n-human-rights-council/?utm_content=buffer- 92c49&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer (accessed 23rd November 2020). 56 Office of International Religious Freedom, op. cit. 57 “Islamic State claims responsibility for Jeddah attack,” Qantara, 13th November 2020, https://en.qantara.de/content/islam- ic-state-claims-responsibility-for-jeddah-attack (accessed 23rd November 2020). 58 Ibid. 59 “Saudi Arabia’s measures to combat coronavirus since February: A timeline,” Al Arabiya, 24th May 2020, https://english.alarabiya. net/en/coronavirus/2020/05/24/Saudi-Arabia-s-measures-to-combat-coronavirus-since-February-A-timeline.html (accessed 23rd November 2020). 60 Mina Aldroubi, “Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia to reopen mosques in Makkah from Sunday,” National News, 19th June 2020, https:// www.thenationalnews.com/world/mena/coronavirus-saudi-arabia-to-reopen-mosques-in-makkah-from-sunday-1.1036007 (accessed 23rd

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November 2020). 61 Tuqa Khalid, “Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia allows lectures, lessons in mosques with restrictions,” Al Arabiya, 25th June 2020, https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/06/25/Coronavirus-Saudi-Arabia-allows-lectures-lessons-in-mosques-with-restrictions (accessed 23rd November 2020). 62 “In pictures: Foreign Muslims return to Mecca for Umrah pilgrimage,” 1st November 2020, BBC News, https://www.bbc.com/news/ world-middle-east-54768040 (accessed 23rd November 2020). 63 Michael R. Pompeo (Secretary of State), “United States Takes Action Against Violators of Religious Freedom – Press Statement,” U.S. Department of State, 20th December 2019, https://www.state.gov/united-states-takes-action-against-violators-of-religious-freedom/ (accessed 23rd November 2020). 64 Josie Ensor, “Saudi crown prince defends China’s right to put Uighur Muslims in concentration camps,” The Telegraph, 22nd February 2019, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/22/saudi-crown-prince-defends-chinas-right-put-uighur-muslims-concentration/ (accessed 30th November 2020).

Religious Freedom in the World Report 2021 |